Hood Mountain Regional Park & Preserve is a 2,000-acre wilderness park on the edge of the Sonoma Valley, about 5 miles southeast of Santa Rosa. The park offers 19 miles of trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians and features the only public backpacking sites in the valley.
At 2,730 feet, Hood Mountain is the highest peak in the Mayacamas Mountains separating the Sonoma and Napa valleys. Its Gunsight Rock outcropping above Highway 12 offers stunning views of the valley and Bay Area landmarks beyond.
Hood Mountain’s features also include a pygmy forest, the headwaters of Santa Rosa Creek, and trail connections to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
Environmental campsites are available in remote settings reached by hiking approximately 2 miles from Hood Mountain’s parking areas.
Hood Mountain offers the most extensive trail system within the Regional Parks system. Trails climb through mixed-conifer forests and cross meadows and several creeks, and the hiking can be strenuous.
Access to the northwest portion of the park is through Los Alamos Road. Access to the southwest portion of the park is through Pythian Road. Dogs allowed on leash. Open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset.
Hood Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve
With a massive flood of zero-proof beverages recently hitting the market, it’s become fairly easy to find nonalcoholic alternatives on…
As a Sonoma local, I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing Sonoma County’s finest offerings and generally end up with the…
This portion of our guide to the Russian River Valley follows the Russian River as it ventures into redwood country. On this leg of…
This final portion of our guide to the Russian River Valley continues west to where the Russian River meets the coast…
This portion of our guide to the Russian River Valley follows the lazily meandering river on its journey through northern Sonoma County as…
Late fall through winter is considered off-season at the Sonoma Coast, but we consider them ideal times to visit our…
Sonoma County is a playground for outdoor adventures, and with its legendary food and wine scene, it’s the perfect destination…
Sonoma County is well known for its scenic backroads, snaking over mountains, around bucolic farms, ranches and endless vineyards, then…
If you’re not a commuter to Santa Rosa, Petaluma or one of the other towns along the SMART train route,…
Here in Sonoma County, we have the deepest respect and fondness for our firefighters and first responders, as they work…
